Solid state ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation system

Abstract

An LED ultraviolet photocatalytic oxidation device is provided in a fluid handling system, such as an air handling system. In one embodiment, the photocatalyst is disposed on a protective layer (e.g. glass, plastic or quartz) on the semiconductor of the LED. In another embodiment, the photocatalyst is disposed on the protective layer, which is separated from the semiconductor by a fluid that filters or changes the wavelengths emitted by the LED. In a third embodiment, the photocatalyst is disposed directly on the semiconductor of the LED.

1. A fluid purification system comprising:
 a semiconductor having an outer surface on which is formed a light-emitting diode adapted to produce ultraviolet light; 
 a first layer disposed directly on the outer surface, the first layer adapted to transmit the ultraviolet light produced by the light-emitting diode; and 
 a photocatalyst disposed on the first layer, the photocatalyst adapted to produce a photocatalytic oxidation process when the ultraviolet light is transmitted from the light-emitting diode to the photocatalyst. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid purification system of  claim 1  wherein the photocatalyst is disposed within a fluid stream. 
     
     
       3. The fluid purification system of  claim 2  wherein the photocatalyst is disposed within an air stream in an air handling system. 
     
     
       4. The fluid purification system of  claim 3  wherein the light-emitting diode is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes adjacent one another. 
     
     
       5. The fluid purification system of  claim 1  wherein the first layer is one of glass, plastic or quartz. 
     
     
       6. The fluid purification system of  claim 1  wherein the light-emitting diode is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged at least substantially in a plane generally parallel to a plane containing the photocatalyst. 
     
     
       7. A fluid purification system comprising:
 a semiconductor having an outer surface on which is formed a light-emitting diode adapted to produce ultraviolet light; 
 a fluid disposed immediately adjacent the outer surface of the semiconductor; 
 a first layer disposed outwardly of the fluid and having an inner surface contacting the fluid, the fluid and the first layer adapted to transmit the ultraviolet light produced by the light-emitting diode from an outer surface of the first layer; and 
 a photocatalyst disposed on the outer surface of the first layer, the photocatalyst adapted to produce a photocatalytic oxidation process when the ultraviolet light is transmitted from the light-emitting diode to the photocatalyst. 
 
     
     
       8. The fluid purification system of  claim 7  wherein the light-emitting diode is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes adjacent one another. 
     
     
       9. The fluid purification system of  claim 7  wherein the photocatalyst is disposed within a fluid stream. 
     
     
       10. The fluid purification system of  claim 9  wherein the photocatalyst is disposed within an air stream in an air handling system. 
     
     
       11. The fluid purification system of  claim 10  wherein the light-emitting diode is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes adjacent one another. 
     
     
       12. A fluid purification system comprising:
 a semiconductor having an outer surface on which is formed a light-emitting diode adapted to produce ultraviolet light; and 
 a photocatalyst disposed directly on the outer surface, the photocatalyst adapted to produce a photocatalytic oxidation process when the ultraviolet light is transmitted from the light-emitting diode to the photocatalyst. 
 
     
     
       13. The fluid purification system of  claim 12  wherein the light-emitting diode is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes adjacent one another. 
     
     
       14. The fluid purification system of  claim 12  wherein the photocatalyst is disposed within a fluid stream. 
     
     
       15. The fluid purification system of  claim 14  wherein the photocatalyst is disposed within an air stream in an air handling system. 
     
     
       16. The fluid purification system of  claim 15  wherein the light-emitting diode is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes adjacent one another. 
     
     
       17. A purification system comprising:
 a first ultraviolet light source; 
 a second ultraviolet light source; and 
 a first photocatalyst positioned between the first ultraviolet light source and the second ultraviolet light source, the first photocatalyst having a first surface facing the first ultraviolet light source and an opposite second surface facing the second ultraviolet light source, the first ultraviolet light source adapted to direct ultraviolet light onto the first surface of the first photocatalyst and to cause photocatalytic oxidation and the second ultraviolet light source adapted to direct ultraviolet light onto the second surface of the first photocatalyst to cause photocatalytic oxidation by the first photocatalyst. 
 
     
     
       18. The purification system of  claim 17  further including a second photocatalyst spaced away from the first photocatalyst, positioned between the first and second ultraviolet light sources, and positioned between the first photocatalyst and the second ultraviolet light source the second photocatalyst having a first surface facing the first photocatalyst and an opposite second surface facing the second ultraviolet light source. 
     
     
       19. The purification system of  claim 18  wherein a first portion of the ultraviolet light from the first photocatalyst passes through the first photocatalyst onto the second photocatalyst. 
     
     
       20. The purification system of  claim 19  wherein a first portion of the ultraviolet light from the second photocatalyst passes through the second photocatalyst onto the first photocatalyst, and wherein the first and second ultraviolet light sources each comprise at least one light-emitting diode.